I had fairly low expectations for the dive today. It had been rough for the last few days and the forecast was for 1.5 to 2 metre southerly swell. I was pleasantly surprised that the swell was not all that bad at The Steps and my entry was easy. I was even more surprised when the visibility at the surface was 10 to 15 metres. My pleasure was short lived as the visibility dropped to 5 metres at the sand line and there was quite a bit of surge.
As it was an outgoing tide I swam towards The Monument. I came across a weedy seadragon on the sand almost immediately. It was one I'd seen before over a year ago in the same area. It has a growth on the right side of its face. I don't believe that was there last time I saw it.
I continued on to The Monument. The visibility got progressively worse the closer I got to The Monument. By the time I got to the rock where "Rosie" now lives it was down to less than 3 metres. The outgoing current was quite strong, too. I found "Rosie" on her new rock. I was glad she didn't move again after the rough weather.
I went past "Rosie" by 20 metres or so but it was tough swimming against the current. I tried to find the two Nembrotha but the poor visibility did not make it easy. A school of striped catfish drifted past me. I think they wanted to check me out but the current was too strong.
I turned and headed back to The Steps. It was much easier going back with the current. I checked "Rosie" out on the way back.
I kept to the reef away from the sand line on the way back and only hit the sand when I was closer to the sand. Here I found another weedy seadragon. This was another I last saw over a year ago. While I was photographing the weedy a pipefish drifted past. I followed it for 20-30 metres before it eventually settled and I was able to take some photographs of it. The surge made it difficult to get any good photos.
I continued on to The Steps, did my safety stop and exited. The exit was clean and easy. |
